[Clinical application of osseointegrated prosthetic in reconstruction of auricular defects]

Auricular deformity, a common disease of the external ear in China, can be divided into congenital deformity and acquired deformity caused by trauma or ablative origin. Ear reconstruction with autogenous rib cartilage grafts provides consistent emotional relief and psychological benefits due to the repair. However, autogenous reconstruction is complex and challenging, and can be fraught with complications, in addition sometimes it may not be an option for the patients with poor skin cover, severe craniofacial anomalies, those with microtia who have had a failed previous reconstruction and microtia patients with a very low hairline and residual lobe. As an alternative to the significant surgical morbidity of autogenous reconstruction, osseointegrated implant reconstruction has several distinct advantages. This current essay was to illustrate the superiority, indications, feasibility and complications of osseointegrated implant reconstruction, and provide alternative way to help patient who was deprived of ear(s).